A.I. Explore: Abstract Expressionism

This is a post about A.I. text2img employing the term 'Abstract Expressionism' and some of its greatest artist. To do that well, you first need to know what the movement was.

Abstract Expressionism was an art movement that got its start in post-World War II America's New York City. The movement began and flourished in 1943 New York City. As a broad movement in American painting, the artist who flourished in the style were committed to representing profound emotions and universal themes brought on by the post-war mood of anxiety and trauma. Its launch rode the coat tails of Surrealism and Impressionism.

"Having matured as artists at a time when America suffered economically and felt culturally isolated and provincial, the Abstract Expressionists were later welcomed as the first authentically American avant-garde. Their art was championed for being emphatically American in spirit - monumental in scale, romantic in mood, and expressive of a rugged individual freedom." -- TheArtStory.org

Abstract Expressionism as a movement, started in 1943 and ended in late 1965. The following are prompts and renders in Midjourney.

action painting of 'Abstract Expressionism' in a earthtone color palette --ar 3:2 --upbeta --v 4

action painting of 'Abstract Expressionism' in a cooltone color palette --ar 3:2 --upbeta --v 4

One of the leading artist in Abstract Expressionism was Mark Rothko (1903-1970). Born Markus Yakovlevich Rothkowitz was a Latvian-American abstract painter, best known for his color field paintings which were irregular and painterly regions of color in a rectangular shapes.

color field painting of bright orange and olive green by Mark Rothko --ar 3:2 --upbeta

Willem de Kooning (1904-1997) was Dutch-American abstract expressionist artist born in Rotterdam that moved to New York in 1926. Kooning was one of the most prominent and celebrated of artist from this movement. His style was a combination of Cubism, Surrealism and Expressionism.

Abstract Expressionism painting of a loving couple, painted by Willem de Kooning --ar 3:2 --upbeta --v 4

Helen Frankenthaler (1928-2011) was a major contributor to the history of postwar American painting. Her great contribution to this movement was a technique she called "soak-stain" that involved thinned down paint with paint thinner to create oil paintings that almost mirrored the opacity of watercolor.

'soak stain' Abstract Expressionism painting by Helen Frankenthaler of Elizabethian Gardens --ar 3:2 --upbeta --v 4

You cannot speak of Abstract Expressionism, without mentioning Jackson Pollock (1912-1956). Pollock was a pivotal and major figure in the art world. He developed what became known as the "drip technique" which involved pouring and splashing household paint onto a canvas laying flat. A critic at the time described his work as 'action painting' - and it became a term to embody this style of kinetic artistry.

'drip technique' Abstract Expressionism painting by Jackson Pollock of Spring Rhythm --ar 3:2 --upbeta --v 4

Grace Hartigan (1922-2008) was leading member of the New York School from which the American Abstract Expressionism movement had its founding and roots. She is described in the art world as a second-generation Abstract Expressionist and the most talented artist of her time.

Abstract Expressionism painting by Grace Hartigan of New York lights at night --ar 3:2 --upbeta --v 4

John Angus Chamberlain (1927-2011) was an American sculptor that worked in the Abstract Expressionism movement. His medium was most often crushed automobile steel that was candy colored. The gestural vigor of his work was dynamic and expressive.

Abstract Expressionism sculpture by John Chamberlain of a fruit bowl, displayed in a museum --ar 3:2 --upbeta --v 4

Peter Voulkos (1924-2002) was an Greek-American artist who was dubbed the father of the American Clay Revolution (also known as the Craft-to-Art movement).Voulkos was known for both ceramics and sculptural metal works.

a large scale Abstract Expressionism ceramic sculpture by Peter Voulkos of the kindness of man, displayed in a gallery --ar 3:2 --upbeta --v 4

Most of my A.I. Explore posts are less extensive, but I wanted to experiment with a different approach to a lesson on A.I. and an area of influence to be applied in prompt crafting. While I like the idea of seeing the prompt alongside the render, it also hides the presentation and requires more of a commitment from the casual peruser.

What are your thoughts on this format of prompt exploration and insight? Love your takeaway.

A.I. Explore with Brian Sykes

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